Tuesday, May 28, 2013

I've spent most of the last week in the hospital or rehab center when not at work. You know, just for funsies....

But for reals, mom took a good fall last weekend. Such a good fall that she broke her ankle and wrist both required emergency surgery complete with pins and plates. She also has a sprain (and possibly a bone chipped off) in her other wrist, a sprained neck now causing blinding headaches, multiple bruises and lacerations. She's done a good number on herself this time.

Mom not being the pinnacle of health in general, a fall like this is very dangerous and challenging to recover from. She moved to a rehab facility a few days ago and well likely be there for 4 - 6 weeks. Dad has been a trooper and we've rotated keeping company and taking care of mom. Which really boils down to both of us having spent A LOT of time with her.

Having all this time in hospitals/rehab facilities has been a very rude awakening. And it oddly enough comes on the heels of a conversation with a friend of mine and we were talking about where we think our lives might head and if there will be kids involved. He mentioned that he had this fear that he'd be at the end of his life and no one would visit him, because he wouldn't have any kids or grandkids. I thought that was an interesting perspective because I've never pictured myself coming to an end at the hospital. Not that I picture me dying a lot, but I just presumed it would be either a blaze of glory, something completely bizarre and situational, or quietly at home in bed. Maybe because I've never known anyone who died in a hospital, and to me, I see them as places where people go to get fixed and then sent on their way home.

Either way, here is my request: please don't let me die in a hospital or nursing home. I'll do my part by staying as healthy as possible but when it is my time prop me up against a jukebox, lay me out in some grassy meadow, roll me into an ocean, please do anything but let me die in hospital or nursing home.

And thanks everyone for the well wishes, kind thoughts and prayers. It matters more than you know.